Oct 24
Lynn’s Teaview Snapshot
 | "Buddha’s Hand reminds me very much of Ti Guan Yin, with its combination of powerfully sweet fragrance and sharper-edged flavor. "
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9.5/10
The name of this tea, according to the website, is derived from the large, hand-like leaves of 'Citron' tea variety and the Buddhist monks who first cultivated it for ceremonial teas. A thick, smooth taste and “lively” aroma are promised.The dry leaves are in large, dark olive green twists and have a mildly floral aroma. The fragrance of a dry tea often has little to do with the final product. Following the purveyor’s directions, I infused one tablespoon (they advise one to two) in one cup of 212F water for two minutes. The resulting liquor was a clear dark straw yellow with a pronounced citrusy, floral— yes, perhaps even lively —fragrance that reminded me of our local orange blossoms. When the groves bloom here in the spring, the fragrance is almost overwhelming. The taste of the first cup was bold, smooth and thick, more nutty than sweet, with a hint of astringency. My first sip left a wonderful scent in my mouth and nose, one of my favorite things about oolongs. The only thing lacking was the sweetness I like in my oolongs. There was no hint of it in this first steeping until it began to cool, and then I wasn't sure if it was the taste or the fragrance I was actually picking up on.
A second infusion of two minutes produced a cup equal in color and fragrance to the first. The large leaves were unfurling nicely in my one-cup glass pot and a mere tablespoon of dry leaves had become a generous handful that filled it to the brim. If I had used the alternately recommended two tablespoons, this would be very close to gong fu brewing. As is so often the case with oolongs, the second cup was better than the first. The astringency had lessened, and the nuttiness was a bit more on the sweet side though this is still not a sweet oolong. It was, however, mouth filling and well rounded, with a hint of oiliness.
As I prepared to fill the pot for a third steeping, I examined the leaves, which were fully open now. I was a bit disappointed to find that nearly all of them were pieces, rather than whole leaves, but the largest piece I found was nearly two inches across and might have been three inches long! Buddha’s hand, indeed. The third two-minute infusion produced another bold cup, with both flavor and orange blossom fragrance still going strong. This tea could clearly go on for several more good infusions.
Buddha Hand Oolong reminds me very much of Ti Guan Yin, with its combination of powerfully sweet fragrance and sharper-edged flavor. There is definitely a bit of the Iron Goddess in the taste and those who enjoy that—and those who would like to push their oolong boundaries a bit—should really give this big, bold tea a try. Highly recommended.
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